BHUBANESWAR: A woman and her paramour were arrested by police for allegedly branding a hot iron rod on two children of the woman for opposing her extra-marital relationship at Mahavir Nagar in Salia Sahi on Friday night. The woman was identified as Sumitra Mohapatra, 30, and her paramour Raju Nayak, 35. Both were booked under sections 126 (2), 118 (1), 109, 351 (2), and 3 (5) of BNS for attempting to murder, causing voluntary obstruction, causing hurt, criminal intimidation, and having common intention, police officials said.
Police said that based on a complaint lodged by the woman’s husband, Prasanna Mohapatra, 43, the duo was arrested and a case registered. “The complaint said Sumitra, along with her friend, physically assaulted his daughter and son by confining them to a room and branding hot iron on their bodies. The accused will be produced before the court on Saturday,” said DCP Pinak Mishra.
The couple has a 14-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son. Their condition is stable now after minor treatment, police said. Police investigation revealed that the couple never earlier tortured the children because they (children) did not earlier directly oppose their relationship. Sumitra and Raju were in a relationship for more than a year. Sumitra’s husband came to know about it recently, and so did the children.
Police revealed that when Prasanna was not at home, Raju would come to have a relationship with Sumitra, which the children never liked. They confided this in their father, which neither their mother nor her paramour approved. Raju is a driver, while Prasanna is a mason who was absent most of the time at home.
Sources said the torture came to light when a neighbour discovered the children’s confinement and heard them wailing in pain. They informed Prasanna, who sought police help to rescue the two kids and take action against his wife and her lover. Further investigation is ongoing in the case to ascertain what more the children know about the duo’s relationship.